Mommy Whispers by Jenny Lee Sulpizio {Book Review}

Any mother with a daughter will be able to relate to this book, and any daughter once she's older will realize the feelings her mother went through while raising her.

Mommy Whispers is a keepsake children's book that depicts the special relationship between a mother and her daughter through each stage of their lives and ultimately, the power of prayer and faith in God through it all.

I enjoyed reading this book to my oldest daughter (almost 6 years old), but did feel it's more geared toward an older age range.  She sat through it and listened, but isn't of course going to understand all the meaning behind the words just yet.  And ultimately it's not a book I'd read as a bedtime story each night, but rather occasionally throughout the years, and then when my daughter has a big milestone (ie. heading to college, getting married, or having her first baby) is when I'd pass the book along to her.  Perhaps with a personalized message written inside the cover of the book.

(Click images to enlarge)

The message behind the book is beautiful, and the repeated words "You are God's gift to me, forever you will be" are uplifting and special.  It would be a book your daughter would always cherish, and if and when she has a daughter of her own, she could pass it along when her own daughter reaches a significant milestone.  You can easily see how this would become a book passed on to each new generation of daughters.  And if you include your own special note inside, a young girl could be reading her own moms message along with her grandma's message to her mom, and on and on... multiple generations of special messages between mothers and daughters.

Mommy Whispers by Jenny Lee Sulpizio and Illustrated by Peg Lozier, can be purchased online in both paperback form and ebook at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Jenny Lee Sulpizio M.S., is a wife, business owner, and mother of three residing in Idaho.  Mommy Whispers is her first publication.  You can learn more about Jenny by visiting her website and following her blog at www.jennysulpizio.com.

You can also connect with her on Facebook and Twitter and learn about her upcoming book projects, including 'There's just Something about a Boy':

Jenny Lee Sulpizio on Facebook

Jenny Lee Sulpizio on Twitter

Disclosure:  Thank you to author Jenny Lee Sulpizio for providing me with a copy of her book to review.  All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and yours may differ.

Royal Tea Party

With the Royal Wedding this morning, and then broadcasts later in the day as well, it was hard to avoid seeing or watching footage at some point throughout the day.  And I'll be honest, I wanted to see what Kate's dress looked like and of course... the KISS (or 2 kisses in this case)!!


So in honor of the wedding, a really good friend of mine came up with a fabulous, fun idea for any little princess in training.... a Royal Tea Party- complete with royal hats!!  She was also lovely enough to drop off everything that was needed- little straw hats, ribbon, and lots of artificial flowers to choose from... thank you Sarah!

I didn't use any sewing or hot glue in this project, though if you wanted your flowers to be more permanent I would definitely suggest a hot glue gun.  These types of hats were perfect for just threading the ribbon and flowers through, easy for kids to do on their own.  And then if my girls want to change the look we can remove and add as needed.

Did you watch the Royal Wedding this morning?  What did you think of some of the hats??

Toggle Bandz- Adjustable Headband {Review & Giveaway}

As a mom of 3 girls I'm always on the lookout for new hair accessories to try for my daughters. The worst thing is when you find something that looks pretty but that slips out or is uncomfortable and they don't want to wear it.

Toggle Bandz was created by Amanda, a stay at home military wife, who was frustrated over market headbands that would slip off her daughter's fine hair.

So she developed adjustable headbands- made in all sizes, widths, colors and themes.  The different lengths fit infant, toddler, child, and adult.  The headband simply adjusts with a clip in the back, underneath the hair so it's not seen, and then is the perfect size for each individual so it stays put.

I love that Toggle Bandz are really easy to put in my girls hair and it's a soft ribbon so no complaints of 'ouch, this hurts my head' like with some headbands.

My oldest two really like wearing their Toggle Bandz, the youngest (16 mos. old) not so much yet.  She doesn't like having anything in her hair so she kept tugging and pulling it out.  This is good for you though since that's the headband I'll be giving away!!

The ribbons come in all different colors too so you can mix and match with
whatever outfit they're wearing.


I love this pretty pastel Polka Dots one for Springtime & Easter 

BUY IT:  You can buy Toggle Bandz online from their website and from their Etsy shop, they range in price from $3- 5 (+1.50 shipping).

WIN IT:  1 lucky reader is going to win this adorable light blue w/ pink polka dots Toggle Bandz for their own little girl

Ways to Enter (leave a separate comment for each entry you do):

• Like Toggle Bandz on Facebook
• Follow @Saphire2379 on Twitter
• Heart (add to favorites) Saphire2379's Toggle Bandz Etsy Shop
• Visit Toggle Bandz and tell me another ribbon choice you like
• Follow my blog publicly via Google Friend Connect
• Subscribe to my blog via Email
• Follow me on Twitter
• Like me on Facebook
• Enter any of my other giveaways +1 for each
• Post about this giveaway (Facebook, Cafemom, Blog, etc.) +5 entries, leave link
• Tweet about this giveaway (may be done daily, leave link)

#Win a Toggle Bandz Adjustable Headband from @SusieBHomemaker and @Saphire2379 http://bit.ly/fOtLWS #Giveaway ends 2/10

U.S. ONLY

This contest ends on 2/10/11 at 11:59 pm EST. Open to U.S. residents only.  The winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning notification email before another winner is drawn.  Please make sure your email is visible on your profile or leave with your comment(s). 

Disclosure:  I received a free product in exchange for my honest review.  No other form of compensation was received.  The opinions and thoughts I’ve shared with these products are 100% my own and yours may differ.

Do you have a Fancy Nancy Fan? {Contest & Giveaway}

My daughter was introduced to Fancy Nancy just a few short months ago and absolutely LOVES her!  I have previously been given the opportunity to review 2 Fancy Nancy books- Ooh La La! It's Beauty Day and Poet Extraordinaire!  And just recently I was sent a swag bag of Fancy Nancy items from Harper Collins Publishing (thank you) to review/giveaway and was also told about the Fancy Nancy Fantastic Fan Photo Contest.

I of course entered my 5 yr old daughter, and would love if you vote for her... or if you have your own Fancy Nancy Fan (ages 3-8), enter her by 1/31/2011 for a chance to be a character in a future book and also to receive a signed copy of the newest book Fancy Nancy and the Fabulous Fashion Boutique!  Read official rules here.

Here's what was in the Fancy Nancy Swag Bag:
   ✿Posh Poetry Journal
   ❀Couture Coin Purse
   ✿Ooh La La Folding Opera Glasses
   ❀Fancy Pink Feathered Pencil
  ✿Fancy Nancy Tea Party Time Nintendo DS/ DSi Game

My daughter loved the pencil and journal- just perfect now that she's in Kindergarten and learning to read and write!  The coin purse not only holds the change that daddy gives her when he empties his pockets but also her Princess & Barbie lip gloss.  And the opera glasses are fabulous for looking at the birds outside, or the toys across the room.  The Tea Party Time game I'm sure she would've loved, but since we don't have a Nintendo DS... well I'm just going to have to host a giveaway for all of my fabulous fans (that's fancy for YOU)!!!

Enter to WIN the Fancy Nancy Tea Party Time! Nintendo DS game, do any of the following (leave a separate comment for each one you do, or already do):

•  Vote for my daughter in the photo contest (can be done daily) +2 Entries
•  Tell me a favorite Fancy Nancy book or one you'd love to have for your Fantastic Fan
•  Follow Harper Collins Publishing on Twitter
•  Follow my blog publicly via Google Friend Connect
•  Subscribe to my blog via Email
•  Follow me on Twitter
•  Like me on Facebook
•  Enter any of my other giveaways +1 for each
•  Post about this contest/giveaway (Facebook, Cafemom, Blog, etc.) +5 entries, leave 5 separate comments
•  Tweet about this contest/giveaway (may be done daily, leave link), may copy & paste the following:

Vote for your favorite Fancy Nancy Fan & Enter to #win a Nintendo DS game @susiebhomemaker http://bit.ly/bsMz6S #Giveaway ends 11/16

U.S. ONLY

This contest ends on 11/16/10 at 11:59 pm EST. Open to U.S. residents only.  The winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning notification email before another winner is drawn. Please make sure your email is visible on your profile or leave with your comment(s).

Disclosure:  I was given a product in exchange for my review.  No other form of compensation was received.  The opinions and thoughts I’ve shared with these products are 100% my own and yours may differ.

Flowerz In Her Hair {Review & Giveaway} Ends 10/3

We are definitely about all things girly here at our house- pink, princesses, flowers, hearts, hairbows, unicorns, dolls... you get the picture.  We have 3 daughters, so I jumped at the chance to do a review for Flowerz In Her Hair.  It's a super cute site for fabulous hair accessories for the little girl in your life.

I was sent something for each of my girls.  A super stretch headband that really is super stretchy and fits both my 1 & 2.5 yr. old.  It's made of a nylon material so it stretches to be able to go from a small to larger head.  And you're able to attach any of the flower clippies & bows securely to the headband.  So you can always change the look to match the outfit.  This actually stayed in place too and didn't slip back off my little one's head, when she wasn't tugging on it that is.  She doesn't like having anything on her head- hats, headbands... we're working on it.

The large natural flower clips measure 3.5- 4.5 inches.  The one I was sent was beautiful- hot pink with a yellow center and a small rhinestone right in the middle- the perfect amount of 'bling'.  The clip is lined with a hair gripper that holds awesome, really it does, and it doesn't pull on the hair.  I LOVED that about these clippies!  I've gotten other ones before that were cute but wouldn't stay in my girls' hair... just kept slipping out.  Which is super frustrating when you have to send your daughter off to school or get pictures and it won't stay in.

I was also sent a hot pink beanie- it's crocheted with an elastic band so it's really stretchy like the headband, and is able to fit from toddler to teen.  You're also able to attach any of the clippies to the beanie or you can get one with a ribbon weaved through it for unlimited color combo choices.  I love how the flower clippie and beanie looked together on my daugher... too cute!

I also received a Cute as a Button ponytail holder- xtra-large 2".  This seemed slightly large for my girls, so I'm thinking this is one that mommy could actually wear.  It can be a bit awkward to put in also, with how big the button is while trying to twist it around the hair.  It's super cute though and I think when my hair gets longer I'll be able to start wearing it.

I would definitely recommend Flowerz In Her Hair to any mom that has daughters or anyone looking to buy quality hair accessories for any little or big girl in their life!  They also have communion and flower girl pieces and school spirit items.  The prices are completely affordable considering the beautiful handmade items you'll receive and you get a FREE clip holder with every order plus FREE standard shipping on every order over $10 everyday!

Giveaway:  1 lucky reader is going to win a $20 gift code to Flowerz In Her Hair.

Mandatory Entry:  Visit Flowerz In Her Hair and tell me an item you'd love to have.

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each one you do or already do):

•  Follow the Flowerz In Her Hair blog publicly
•  Like Flowerz In Her Hair on Facebook
•  Follow Flowerz In Her Hair on Twitter
•  Follow my blog publicly via GFC
•  Subscribe to my blog via Email
•  Follow me on Twitter
•  Like me on Facebook
•  Enter any or all of my other giveaways +1 for each
•  Post about this giveaway (Facebook, Cafemom, Blog, etc.) +5 entries, leave 5 separate comments
•  Tweet about this giveaway (may be done daily, leave link):

RT #Win Adorable Hair Accessories!! Flowerz In Her Hair #giveaway from @amysflowerz & @susiebhomemaker http://bit.ly/bce7yT

U.S. & CANADA ONLY

This contest ends on 10/3/10 at 11:59 pm EST.  Only U.S. and Canadian residents are eligible to win.  The winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning notification email before another winner is drawn. Please make sure your email is visible on your profile or leave with your comment(s).

Disclosure: I received a product for the purpose of this review but no other type of compensation was received. This has no bearing on my completely honest review above. The opinions and experiences I’ve shared with these products are 100% my own and yours may differ.